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IMDbPro

Red Tails

  • 20122012
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
36K
YOUR RATING
Red Tails (2012)
The story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II.
Play trailer2:28
5 Videos
47 Photos
  • Action
  • Drama
  • History
A crew of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program, having faced segregation while kept mostly on the ground during World War II, are called into duty under the guidance of C... Read allA crew of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program, having faced segregation while kept mostly on the ground during World War II, are called into duty under the guidance of Col. A.J. Bullard.A crew of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program, having faced segregation while kept mostly on the ground during World War II, are called into duty under the guidance of Col. A.J. Bullard.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
36K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Anthony Hemingway
  • Writers
    • John Ridley(story)
    • Aaron McGruder(screenplay)
    • John B. Holway(book "Red Tails, Black Wings: The Men of America's Black Air Force")
  • Stars
    • Cuba Gooding Jr.
    • Gerald McRaney
    • David Oyelowo
Top credits
  • Director
    • Anthony Hemingway
  • Writers
    • John Ridley(story)
    • Aaron McGruder(screenplay)
    • John B. Holway(book "Red Tails, Black Wings: The Men of America's Black Air Force")
  • Stars
    • Cuba Gooding Jr.
    • Gerald McRaney
    • David Oyelowo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 327User reviews
    • 146Critic reviews
    • 46Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 9 nominations

    Videos5

    No. 3
    Trailer 2:28
    No. 3
    Trailer #2
    Trailer 1:35
    Trailer #2
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:36
    Trailer #1
    Red Tails
    Clip 1:15
    Red Tails
    Red Tails
    Clip 1:10
    Red Tails

    Photos47

    Michael B. Jordan, David Oyelowo, Ne-Yo, Nate Parker, and Tristan Mack Wilds in Red Tails (2012)
    Michael B. Jordan, Elijah Kelley, David Oyelowo, Ne-Yo, and Nate Parker in Red Tails (2012)
    Michael B. Jordan, Elijah Kelley, David Oyelowo, Leslie Odom Jr., and Nate Parker in Red Tails (2012)
    David Oyelowo, Nate Parker, and Tristan Mack Wilds in Red Tails (2012)
    Lars van Riesen in Red Tails (2012)
    Terrence Howard and Anthony Hemingway in Red Tails (2012)
    Red Tails (2012)
    Nate Parker in Red Tails (2012)
    Elijah Kelley in Red Tails (2012)
    David Oyelowo in Red Tails (2012)
    Ne-Yo in Red Tails (2012)
    Tristan Mack Wilds in Red Tails (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Cuba Gooding Jr.
    Cuba Gooding Jr.
    • Major Emanuelle Stanceas Major Emanuelle Stance
    Gerald McRaney
    Gerald McRaney
    • Major General Luntzas Major General Luntz
    David Oyelowo
    David Oyelowo
    • Joe 'Lightning' Littleas Joe 'Lightning' Little
    Andre Royo
    Andre Royo
    • Antwan 'Coffee' Colemanas Antwan 'Coffee' Coleman
    Terrence Howard
    Terrence Howard
    • Colonel A.J. Bullardas Colonel A.J. Bullard
    Nate Parker
    Nate Parker
    • Marty 'Easy' Julianas Marty 'Easy' Julian
    Tristan Mack Wilds
    Tristan Mack Wilds
    • Ray 'Junior' Gannonas Ray 'Junior' Gannon
    • (as Tristan Wilds)
    Ne-Yo
    Ne-Yo
    • Andrew 'Smokey' Salemas Andrew 'Smokey' Salem
    Elijah Kelley
    Elijah Kelley
    • Samuel 'Joker' Georgeas Samuel 'Joker' George
    Marcus T. Paulk
    Marcus T. Paulk
    • David 'Deke' Watkinsas David 'Deke' Watkins
    Leslie Odom Jr.
    Leslie Odom Jr.
    • Declan 'Winky' Hallas Declan 'Winky' Hall
    Michael B. Jordan
    Michael B. Jordan
    • Maurice Wilsonas Maurice Wilson
    Kevin Phillips
    Kevin Phillips
    • Leon 'Neon' Edwardsas Leon 'Neon' Edwards
    Method Man
    Method Man
    • Sticksas Sticks
    • (as Cliff Smith)
    Bryan Cranston
    Bryan Cranston
    • Colonel William Mortamusas Colonel William Mortamus
    Lee Tergesen
    Lee Tergesen
    • Colonel Jack Tomlinsonas Colonel Jack Tomlinson
    Daniela Ruah
    Daniela Ruah
    • Sofiaas Sofia
    Paul Fox
    Paul Fox
    • Milleras Miller
    • Director
      • Anthony Hemingway
    • Writers
      • John Ridley(story) (screenplay)
      • Aaron McGruder(screenplay)
      • John B. Holway(book "Red Tails, Black Wings: The Men of America's Black Air Force")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In preparation, George Lucas and his staff interviewed surviving Tuskegee Airmen and were given access to their original mission logbooks.
    • Goofs
      When the pilots attack the German Navy vessel, it is referred to as a "destroyer". However, the close ups of the attack reveal the vessel has multiple 8-12 inch guns in armored turrets, which would make it at least a cruiser and maybe even a light battleship.
    • Quotes

      Andrew 'Smokey' Salem: When you get upset, when you get mad, you turn red, right? When you get envious, or sick, you turn green. When you become cowardly, you turn yellow; and ya'll got the nerve to call us colored?

    • Connections
      Featured in Maltin on Movies: Haywire (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      It's Been a Long, Long Time
      Written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne

      Performed by Harry James and His Orchestra (as Harry James & His Orchestra)

      Courtesy of Columbia Records

      By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

    User reviews327

    Review
    Top review
    "Tails" Doesn't Straight Up and Fly Right
    For 24 years, George Lucas has been developing a film about the Tuskegee Airmen, the all African American squad of army pilots during World War II. Now, the dream has come true and the final result of "Red Tails" is a too long, tedious, all noise and no heart time killer. It makes one yearn for the memories of Lucas's "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones".

    In 1944 Italy, a group of four army pilots has been summoned to protect bombers over Germany. Along the way, they have encounters with friendship, romance, danger and overcoming death.

    The film's director, Anthony Hemingway should have stuck to directing TV shows before filming this lackluster effort. John Ridley and Aaron McGruber's script feels third rate and mostly shifts into territories of melodrama and clichés. They should have taken out the bad subplot involving a romance between an Italian girl and one of the pilots and remained focused to expand on the story of the Airmen. The art direction looks like it's been borrowed from too many movies and the action sequences fails to generate any thrills. The visual effects from Industrial Light and Magic add no excitement to the action.

    The young actors playing the pilots {David Oyelowo, Nate Parker, Tristan Wilds and Elijah Kelly} and the acting veterans {Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard} feel like they're taking their roles forcefully instead of seriously. Both Gooding Jr. and Howard proved one thing in their respective roles: They were both in the film just for the money.

    All in all, this fails both in entertainment and as a history lesson. For the past four decades, Lucas wowed audiences by showing them how movies can take people to brand new worlds with "Star Wars" and "Indy". Now, this time, he has failed. Both Lucas and the Tuskegee Airmen deserved better.

    In the end, the best thing to come out of this is the thing before the film itself. The "thing" that I'm talking about is the trailer for the upcoming and hopefully very funny "Three Stooges" movie.

    Rating: 1 star
    helpful•12
    11
    • kgny309
    • Jan 24, 2012

    FAQ1

    • Where did the idea for this movie come from?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 20, 2012 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Phi Đội Đỏ
    • Filming locations
      • Slovenia
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Lucasfilm
      • Pakt Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $58,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $49,876,377
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $18,782,154
      • Jan 22, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $50,365,498
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Digital
      • Auro 11.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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